Building-construction element.



C. W. UTZMAN.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION ELEMENT.

APPLICATION'HLED AUG-30. 1915.

1,203,283. Patented Oct. 31,1916.

inside partitions,

CLARENCE W.V,UTZMAV1\T, or cHIcAeoQILLInors.

BUILDING-CONSTRUCTION ELEMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1916.

Application filed August 30,1915. Serial No. {17,967.-

To allwhom it mag concern: 7

Be it known thatI, CLARENCE W. UTZMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State'of Illinois, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Building-Construction Elements, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates in-general to building constructions, and is designed to comply with modern fire-proof requirements and to supply a fireproof-element for use in constructions in place of woodor other combustible material,

In modern buildings which are constructed with-a view to making themas nearly fireproof as possible, it iscustomary to employ a skeleton steel construction surrounded by tile, concrete, or other fire-resistingmaterial and to make the floors of concrete or other fire-proof construction.- lVooden floors are,

' however, customarily laid over the concrete,

and in order to fasten the floors down wooden screeds are embedded inthe concrete to which the floor boardsare nailed. The vertical partitions also, particularly the are usually formed by using woodenuprightsto which either wood or metal lath are nailedand then covered with plaster. In order to make the partitions somewhat fire-resistant, slabs or sheets of plaster board are frequently used'instead of metal or wooden lath, but a fire of con; siderable magnitude will soon heat through the wall structure and set fire to the wooden uprights of the partition. It has long been recognized therefore that the wooden uprights in the partitions are a very weakportion of the building from a fire-proof standpoint. The wooden screeds beneath the floor are also unsatisfactory because they rot and disintegrate with great rapidity.

One of the primary objects of my present invention therefore is to provide a building construction element of fire-proof construction which can be formed in various shapes, to be used as uprights in partitions, screeds beneath the floors or as beams, girders or joists, anywhere in the building where wooden members have heretofore been used.

VAnother object is to provide an element of the character above mentioned which will as screeds to which be nailed or screwed, andthey may be used not only be fire-proof but will be so constructed that nails, screws or other fastening devices may be driven into it practically as they have heretofore been driven into.

wood. My improved element may. therefore be embodied in theconcretelfioors and used the wooden flooring may as uprights for inside partitions to which plasterboard or metal lath or other covering maybe nailed, stapled or otherwisefastened, thereby providing a'con'str'uction which will beentirely fire-proof. i i

7 '"A further objectfof myinvention is to provide a building construction element which can be sawed to any desired length the same as wooden elements. have been prevlously sawed, to fit anywhere desired;

Other objects andmany ofthe attendant advantages of myinvention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better un; derstood by reference to the following description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings-Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an element embodying ny nvent on, a portlon of the plastic material beingremoved to more clearly show the interior construction; Fig.

2 is a similar View of a modified form of reinforcingmember Fig. 1, showing a member formed to provide a screed; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary-sectional view of abuilding construction showing the use of a screed such as is shown-in Fig. 3, and Fig. '5 is a fragmentary view of a building construction showing the use of anelement such as is disclosed in Fig. 1.

On the drawings reference character 6 indicates generally a building constructionelement in the form of a beam or joist which comprises a body 7 of plastic material, prefcrably stucco, or calcined gypsum, or con crete whichis molded to the required dimenw sesses extremely hi h fire-resisting qualities, but since this material of itself does not possess the requisite tensile, compression and shearing strength, and has little capability of retaining nails,

Fig. 3 is a view similar to V screws or other fastening devices, I have provided a reinforcement therefor which also acts as a fastening dethe direction of the greatest transverse dimension of the element. The upper and lower edges of the reinforcing member are bent to produce a plurality of transversely extending folds 9, each ply of the folds be- I ing separated from the next adjacent ply a sufiicient distance to permit the space between the plies' to be filled by the surrounding plastic material. These folds not only strengthen the element but also provide an area slightly narrower than the width of the element, into which nails, screws, or other fastening devices, may be driven or threaded. Vhen nail or screw, for instance, is driven into the edge of the element and through a plurality of plies of the fold the metal of each ply is bent inwardly as the nail passes therethrough and when the nail has been driven home it is embraced by the surrounding metal in a plurality of places so as to be firmly retained in position against withdrawal, as it would be when driven into a wooden element.

In order to form a more effectual bond for the body of plastic material I prefer to pro-- vide an intermediate portion of the reinforcing element between the longitudinal folds at each edge with a plurality of openings 11 which are formed by striking up or bending laterally a portion of the metal as shown in Fig. 1. \Vhen the element is molded the plastic material will fiow through the openings and form a rigid permanent bond.

For the purpose of further strengthening the element I employ a plurality of reinforcing devices or chairs, designated-generally by reference character 12. Each chair is formed of metal which is preferably substantially channel-shaped, the side flanges 18 being cut out or provided with'recesses 1 1 arranged to receive the sides of the folds 9 and to provide teeth or lugs projecting between the folds so that the folds at the top and bottom of the element are firmly engaged by the chairs. The metal of the body or central portion of each chair is preferably cut and bent inwardly to provide an opening 15 through which the plastic material flows when the element is formed, thereby firmly bonding and locking the chair to the reinforcing member and into the structure of the element. These chairs may be cheaply form of reinforcing member,

provided with openings formed of metal steel stampings, or they may be stamped from solid bars. 7

In Fig. 2 I have shown a slightly modified 16 instead of being 11 of the form shown in Fig. 1 has portions of the metal struck up laterally from the body thereof to provide face of the web to which the plastic material of the element is anchored. The folds 17 are similar to the folds 9, shown in Fig. 1, and I contemplate the" employment of chairs 12 in connection with'this form of reinforo, ing member as well as with that shown in Fig. 1. It should be understood that the chairs 12 are arranged in spaced relation throughout the length of the element, as many chairs being used as may be deemed desirable, depending upon the purpose for which the element isto be used, the chairs web or central portion serving as struts to transmit the load from anchors 20 projecting from each' in which the chord to chord, and also-keeping the beam in equilibrium, and it should'also be under: stood that the height of'the web or intermediate portion 8 of the reinforcing member, and the varied, depending upon the depth of the particular element in any particular instance.

An element proportioned substantially as shown in Fig. 1 is designed to be used as a beam or girder. A smaller and shallower length of the chairs 12, may be construction would be best adapted for use as uprights in interior partitions. Thegdescribed construction also readily permits variations' in the weight bearing strengthof the element by; changing the chord section,

that is, increas ng or decreasing the number of folds while not changing the web. The

depth andother will, of course,

dimensions of the element be regulated to suit the requirements for which the elements are to be f In Fig. 3 I have illustrated an embodi-l Chairs 19, shaped for 1 and 2, the intermediate web insertion between the various folds and 7 adapted to engage therewith, are employed to strengthen and lend rigidity to' the construction. The metal parts are embedded in a bodyof suitable plastic material 21, as i will be readily understood;

In Fig. 4 I have illustrated a screed, which is designated by reference character 22, laid in position in a concrete or other poured floor construction 23, the details of construction of which are immaterial so far as my present invention is concerned. The rough "floor 2+L'is securelyfastened to the screed building frame, and a layer of plaster board 26 is laid over the beam and secured thereto The concrete or stucco by nails or screws 27. 28 is then poured over the plaster board and a floor surface of suitable construction is then imposed upon the concrete. The ceiling of the floor beneath may be attached to the beam 6 in any preferred manner, but I have illustrated a layer of plaster board 29 secured by nails or screws 31, the joints be- 7 ing sustained by clips 32 and the plaster 33 being applied to the under-surface of the plaster board.

Where extra tensional strength in the ten sion region of the element is desired, this may be readily obtained by means of wires or bars (not shown) laid between the folds on the tension side of the member.

It should be apparent from the foregoing that I have provided a building construc-' tion element which is capable of use as a substitute for wooden beams, girders, joists, uprights or screeds, and that while my construction is entirely fire-proof it affords provision for nailing or screwing lath, plaster board or other constructions thereto. The

metal reinforcing members are made sufii ciently thin and soft to permit driving of nails into them, and the elements may be sawed to the required length by means of ordinary hack saws.

While I have shown but two types of elements embodying my invention it should be manifest that they may be made in various sizes and lengths suitable for various purposes, and that the contour or outside shape and appearance of the plastic body may be varied as desired by simply employing a mold of the requisite shape. 7

I claim:

1. A. building construction element comprising an elongated body of plastic material having embedded therein a plurality of parallel longitudinally extending strips of metal spaced apart and adapted to retain fastening devices inserted therethrough, and means engaging the edges of said strips and extending transversely of the element for strengthening and reinforcing the element, the spaces between said strips and around said reinforcing means being filled with said plastic material.

QJAbUilding construction element, comrisin a reinforcin member rovidin b relatively deep and narrow superposed folds parallel relation crosswise of the element the plies of said folds being spaced apart so as to be adapted to'receive' extending in and retain nails or similar fastening devices lnserted therein, said member being em bedded 1n a form body of hardened plastic 'material which fills the spaces between the plies of said folds.

3. A building construction element comprising a body of plastic material surroundmg a metal sheet formed adjacent the top and bottom of the element so as to provide a plurality of spaced transverse plies separated from each other by said plastic material and adapted to receive and retain nails or similar fastening devices, said metal sheet having an intermediate web extending along the longitudinal axis of said element between the upper and lower transverse plies.

4;. A building construction element comprising a body of plastic material shaped to form a beam or the like having embedded therein a metal sheet comprising a central portion perforated to permit bonding of the surrounding plastic-material, and a portion formed by bending the metal to provide a plurality of relatively deep and narrow sub stantially parallel transversely extending folds spaced apart by said plastic material and adapted to receive and retain a fastening device inserted 5. A building construction element, comprising a beam or the like of plastic material having embedded therein a sheet metal member folded along one longitudinal edge to provide a series of spaced plies arranged substantially parallel with the'adjacent face of the beam and extending across the beam nearly to the opposite sides thereof in position to receive and retain fastening devices inserted therethrough the space between adjacent plies being filled with said plastic material.

6. A building construction element, comprising a sheet metal member shaped to provide transversely disposed relatively deep and narrow folds, means engaging the edges of said folds to strengthen and retain the same in position, and a body of plastic material surrounding said member and said means.

7. A building construction element, comprising a body of plastic material shaped to form a beam or the like having embedded therein a metal sheet provided at the top andbottom with a plurality of transversely extending folds between which said plastic material is disposed, intermediate portions therein. 7

plastic material, and metal chairs embedded relatively deep and narrow transversely exin said plastic'material and engaged With tending folds superposed along the longisaid folds to strengthen and reinforce the tudinal edges of said member the plies of element.

said folds being of substantiallyequal Wldtl1' 5 8. A reinforcing member for a plastic transversely of the element and spacedapart building construction element, comprising it throughout their length. sheet of metal bent to provide a plurality of CLARENCE W.'UTZMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of ..Patents, Washington, D. C. 

